Storks are slowly returning to their nests
According to the old proverb “On St. Gregory’s Day, storks fly over the sea”, it is said that storks should be on their way back from Africa these days. However, some of these birds returned to the Czech Republic in early March. Other storks are returning through our territory further north. According to the latest observations of the Czech Ornithological Society, 491 nests are occupied in our country so far, which is 37% of the total number of nests in the country.
Storks have arrived earliest of all in the Pilsen and South Bohemia regions, and many nests are already occupied in the Karlovy Vary region. These storks fly a westerly route and during the last few years have spent the winter in south-western Europe or southern Germany, which means they are closer to their nesting sites.
Storks from western, southern and central Bohemia are back home
The first stork returned to its nest in Kdyně in Domažlice region on 3 February. During this month several pairs of storks have been arriving in Cheb regularly . People can enjoy the view of the stork pair from Cheb thanks to a webcam available on Facebook called Cheb Storks. The bird “star of Cheb”, Mojmir the stork, also regularly nests in the town every year. The early return of these storks is due to the fact that they stay in the south of Europe and do not fly to Africa, and therefore get home much earlier.
In the Pilsen region, specifically in Mirošov and Klabava, the storks returned from the warmer regions on 20 February. This local harbinger of spring is one of the warmest. In fact, on the chimney of the former brewery, they return very early every year, probably from Germany, where the storks take advantage of the hospitality in the bird park near Passau. Other popular nesting sites are also already occupied. You can see these popular birds in Stahlava, Dobřany, Stod, Dolní Lukavica, Domažlice or Klatovy.
The Arnost stork, which flies in from southern Bohemia, also stays close by and returns home earlier than the other storks. This original feathered bird, which the locals are waiting for, has already learned not to winter in Africa and spends the winter with neighbours – it winters in a bird park in Germany near Passau. Young storks not only from South Bohemia, but also from Pilsen like to fly to this place. Another attractive location for birds from the Pilsen region is the municipal waste dumps in Spain, which ornithologists have noted over the past ten years. On the other hand, black storks usually fly further afield – they like to winter in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula and especially in Israel.
Storks that fly in from further afield head for the Sedlčansko region of Central Bohemia. The first place in the cadastre of Sedlčany where the White Stork arrived was Třebnice. A juvenile stork without a ring has been observed on a chimney there since 27 March. In Třebnice, the storks nested for the first time in 2023 after a gap of several years. The storks are expected to arrive in other places in the region usually at the beginning of April, which is expected by the locals any day now.
Storks from the Hradec Kralove region also start to return during March. The public recorded a complete pair of storks around 25 March at the Dvůr Králové Zoo (domestic pair), as well as in Nové Mlýny, Ústí nad Orlicí and Rychnov nad Kněžnou. More storks are expected in Dvůr Králové, Vlčice, Chvalč and Vrchlabí. On the other hand, the Facebook star Bukáček from the nest in Mladý Buky has not yet returned. His fans are patiently waiting for him to fly into the warm weather, as there is still snow on the nest. Bukáček is approximately 8 to 10 years old and this could be the fifth year his fans have been able to follow him online. Hopefully, he will be reunited with the female , Betty, with whom he raised three storks last year. Another star is the stork couple Bohunka and Bohdan on the chimney of the Kara company in Bohuslavice near Trutnov. You can follow their life on the website capibohuslavice.cz with a webcam and also on Facebook, where there are regularly beautiful comments and summaries of important events from their nest with kind humour. The nest on the chimney in Lázně Bohdaneč, Pardubice region, which even has a stork in its emblem, also has its fans. This bird family happily delights both local residents and patients. You can also follow the stork couple online and on Facebook.
A joyful heron encounter
Storks return to the Czech Republic from warm places mainly to breed. Usually the male is the first to appear on the chimney. It is customary for the female to arrive home a little later. The male usually immediately starts rearranging the nest, cleaning and repairing it. When the female also gets “home”, they both greet each other happily by tilting their heads and flapping their beaks.
The pair build a nest and in early April the female lays her eggs. These hatch after about a month. Both parents then have the difficult task of providing enough food for the chicks. They feed them on poisoned frogs, voles and fish. Then, at the end of August , they all fly off to warmer climes. Storks usually remain loyal, but as elsewhere, dramatic conflicts can arise during spring courtship, which can sometimes end in injury and mate swapping. Storks first breed around age 5, and there are documented nestings of storks that have lived up to 20 years.
March is a key month for ornithologists to record the most accurate data on stork arrivals. Watch for nests in your area and record your sightings on birdlife.cz. The more nests that can be checked, the better and more accurate data on stork arrivals ornithologists can get. Ornithologists hope that this year people will also include stork watching in their trips to help monitor the progress of the nesting season. However, the more valuable the sightings in your immediate area, the more information can be captured throughout the life of the nest – such as sitting on eggs, hatching chicks and their growth to later flight. Check out the map at www.birdlife.cz/capi/ to see if there is a stork nest near your home and record whether the stork has arrived. And even if you don’t see a stork, you can find the nest on the map and indicate “no stork sighted”. That way, scientists will know that the nest has been checked and the stork has not yet been there.
Stork Watching in the Czech Republic
Discover when and where you can see storks in the country, learn about their migration, nesting habits, and the role they play in local communities.
Arrival and Migration
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Seasonal Arrival:
Storks typically arrive in the Czech Republic during March and early April. -
Migration Routes:
They return from wintering grounds in southwestern Europe, Germany, Spain, and some even fly in from Africa.
Nesting Regions and Behavior
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Key Nesting Areas:
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Pilsen
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South Bohemia
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Karlovy Vary
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Nesting Details:
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Storks usually begin nesting around their fifth year.
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They can live for up to 20 years.
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Breeding Habits:
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Heron chicks hatch about a month after the female lays eggs, usually in early April.
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Although storks generally remain faithful to their partners, occasional spring conflicts may lead to changes.
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Ecological and Community Impact
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Harbingers of Spring:
The arrival of storks is widely celebrated in local communities as a sign of spring. -
Feeding Habits:
Storks primarily feed on frogs, voles, and fish, which they then pass on to their chicks.
Observation and Monitoring
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Public Engagement:
Local communities monitor stork pairs through webcams installed at nests. -
Where to Watch:
Websites such as capibohuslavice.cz and various city Facebook pages provide live updates.
This comprehensive overview offers insight into the fascinating world of storks, highlighting their migration, breeding habits, and the cultural significance they hold in the Czech Republic.
